GOP On Track To Hold Washington Senate, Pick-Up House Seats

Washington Democrats appear to have failed in their bid to retake control of the state Senate. Republicans were also poised to pick up seats in the Democratically-controlled Washington House.

Early election returns Tuesday night showed Republicans holding onto their majority in the state Senate by holding the line against Democratic challenges in half a dozen key races. Most notably in the 45th District on Seattle’s eastside where Republican Andy Hill was ahead of his Democratic challenger Matt Isenhower with 53 percent of the vote.

In other key races, Republican incumbents were leading by even more. This despite a $1 million effort by California billionaire and climate activist Tom Steyer to try to help Democrats win back the Senate.

In the Washington House, several Democratic incumbents were tied with or trailing their Republican challengers. If that trend holds, Democrats could find their majority shaved to just a seat or two.

In 2010, President Obama lost six seats in the Senate and 63 in the House and called it "a shellacking." Four years before that, President George W. Bush lost six seats in the Senate and 30 in the House and called it a "thumpin'. "

Voters in Washington, D.C., have approved the legal use of marijuana for recreational purposes. Supporters of the D.C. marijuana measure had a 65-29.5 percent lead as of 9:09 p.m. ET, with 20,727 voting in favor.

When we talk about guns, rarely do we speak with reluctant gun owners, particularly parents who have decided that owning a firearm is safer than not and who struggle with how to discuss gun safety with their kids.